SEVENTEEN
As the chariot sped toward the Kaurava army, Arjuna raised Mayaa's sea-conch, the Devadatta and blew a deep bass on it. As they drew nearer he pulled on the bowstring of the Gandiva and sent a wave of fear through the Kaurava footsoldiers. They saw him transformed; they saw the flag of Hanuman above the youth that had changed places with Arjuna.
Drona cried excitedly, "The eunuch has vanished, here comes Arjuna! Prepare to surrender their herd to the Matsyas, none of us will stand before Indra's son today."
Duryodhana snapped, "Acharya, you forget yourself! You are disheartening our men. Anyway, we did not come here to seek battle, only to unmask the Pandavas. We have seen Arjuna before the end of the ajnatavasa. If they are men of honor, they must go back to the forest for another twelve years.
And why does Arjuna's very name strike such terror in the hearts of the Kurus? Bheeshma, Drona, Kripa and Aswatthama stand petrified in their chariots. I say what if it is Arjuna? Won't the Kuru army face Indra or Yama, if they came to challenge us?"
Karna rode up and said in disgust, "Not a man in our army wants to fight because of what Drona said. But, Duryodhana, to Karna it does not matter who the enemy is. Let it be Bhargava or Indra, Arjuna by himself or with Krishna beside him: for you, I will fight them all, by myself if need be!
I pray that is Arjuna; for thirteen years, I have dreamt of this encounter. I will cover him with arrows, till he is like a mountain mantled in the crimson flowers of spring. Then, as Garuda does a serpent in his talons, I will pluck him out of his chariot.
I know the thought of Arjuna has been a thorn in your heart, Duryodhana. Today I will remove it forever. As for the rest of you: stand by, if you dare not fight and watch me!"
He spoke with such contempt that Kripa cried, "Do you never think of anything but war and killing? A kshatriya only fights when he cannot avoid battle, but you are always eager to cover yourself in blood. Why must you try to prove you are Arjuna's equal? We all know how much better than you he is.
But why bother to make you see sense? You are so stubborn, Karna, you would reach your hand into a cobra's mouth to show how brave you are. Instead of boasting, let us stand together. Let Bheeshma, Drona, Aswatthama, Kripa, Karna and Duryodhana unite to contain Arjuna today. He has waited thirteen years to be at us and even together, I fear we will not hold him. To speak of facing him alone is foolishness; Karna, you don't know what you are saying."
Karna swore at this. "Kripa has lost his manhood seeing Arjuna, but I don't need him or any of you to face the Pandava. I, alone, am enough. Duryodhana, today your friend will discharge a part of his debt to you. My lord, a brahmana's advice should be sought only when a yagna is to be performed, a feast held, or the poor fed. Since they tremble at Arjuna's name, let Kripa and Drona ride back to Hastinapura. I will fight by myself."
Aswatthama cried in rage, "Duryodhana, the Matsya herd is still in Matsya lands. Your friend talks as if the battle is over and Arjuna has already been defeated. As for brahmanas, they are not given to bragging. They are like the elements.
Does fire boast it can consume all it touches? Does the sun sing that he lights up the earth? And the earth, our mother, does she say, 'Look at me, how wonderful I am: how heavy the burden I bear, how marvelous my fortitude!'
No, for the truly great have no need to boast: their deeds speak for them. Only the ineffectual and the impotent are full of talk and little else."
Aswatthama turned on Duryodhana. "Brahmanas don't win kingdoms by cheating at dice. A vaishya may earn his livelihood by buying and selling, even by cheating; it is in his blood. But who has seen a kshatriya doing these things?
Karna talks so glibly of brahmanas being afraid. Duryodhana, did you conquer Indraprastha with arms? Did you send your cousins into exile after beating them in battle? Why, you did not play dice yourself against Yudhishtira, but had a cheat play for you.
Do you remember what Vidura said then? 'All creatures inherit the patience of the earth to varying degrees, even the ants and little insects. And the greatest men are the most forbearing of all.' But you went too far, when you and your brother humiliated Draupadi in the Kuru sabha. Your nemesis rides at you in that chariot. Arjuna has not forgotten that day, it is burnt in fire on his heart. He has no use for patience today and none of us will escape his wrath.
This fool dares call my father and my uncle cowards. They spoke knowing Arjuna's worth, as I do. This braggart is no archer compared to Arjuna. He is just consumed by envy, alas, the same envy that has been your ruin. You could have been such a great king, Duryodhana, if only you hadn't let your envy of the Pandavas rule your life."
Aswatthama said, "Duryodhana, let Virata take the field today and I will fight for you. But I will not fight Arjuna. He is as dear to me as my father and Karna has wronged them both."
He flung down his bow and quiver.